Packer Central All-Packers Mock Draft 7.0: Trading Back

GREEN BAY, Wis. – I usually hit the “reject” button on the mock draft simulations. Mock drafts are already straight from Mr. Rogers’ “Neighborhood of Make-Believe.” Creating hypothetical trades makes a mock draft even more make-believe.

Still, using the Pro Football Network simulator for our seventh all-Green Bay Packers mock draft, I took an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs because there seemed to be a bit of realism to it.

The Packers and Chiefs both need receivers but the Packers, with their top-heavy salary structure, have a real need for additional impact players on affordable rookie contracts. So, I accepted this offer: Green Bay’s initial first-round pick (No. 22) and fifth-round selection (No. 171) for Kansas City’s initial first-round pick (No. 29) and its second-round choice (No. 62). That gave me five of the first 62 picks – and one heck of a void in Day 3.

Here are the picks.

All-Packers Mock Draft 7.0

Using the simulator at Pro Football Network, I traded back to acquire an additional second-round choice.

First Round – No. 28: Ohio State WR Chris Olave

With USC’s Drake London, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Ohio State’s Chris Olave on the board, I felt good about getting an impact receiver when I traded out of No. 22. Olave has the field-stretching ability that coach Matt LaFleur wants and the route-running ability of a younger Davante Adams.

First Round – No. 29: Michigan edge David Ojabo

With that extra pick, I felt good about drafting someone who might not contribute much this season. Ojabo was a legit top-20 pick before tearing an Achilles at pro day. Ojabo had 11 sacks and a whopping five forced fumbles last season. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he ran his 40 in a ridiculous 4.55 seconds. When he’s healthy, he’ll provide a different look than the duo of Preston Smith and Rashan Gary.

Second Round – No. 53: Georgia WR George Pickens

If I were a betting man, I’d guess Pickens will be off the board here. But there were other targets, including South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.47 seconds. He is excellent on deep balls and is a better route-runner than a lot of tall receivers. He had a predraft visit.

Second Round – No. 59: Washington State OT Abraham Lucas

With plenty of experience protecting the quarterback and superb athleticism – at 6-foot-6 3/8 and 315 pounds, Lucas ran his 40 in 4.92 seconds and his shuttle in 4.40 producing a superb RAS, Lucas had a predraft visit.

Second Round – No. 62: Connecticut DT Travis Jones

If I were a betting man, I’d guess that Jones is long gone here, too, but there were other options, such as Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal and Alabama’s Phidarian Mathis who I would have happily grabbed. A bit lost in the shuffle of Georgia’s Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, Jones at 325 pounds ran his 40 in 4.92 seconds.

Third Round – No. 92: Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert

Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis will be free agents next offseason. Ruckert is more in the line of Lewis as the physical blocker and underneath target. The Packers have taken a lot of third-round tight ends with Richard Rodgers, Jace Sternberger and Josiah Deguara. He’s 6-foot-5 1/2; he did not test because of a foot injury.

Fourth Round – No. 132: Baylor S JT Woods

Darnell Savage (unless the team triggers the fifth-year option) and Adrian Amos will be free agents next offseason. So, there’s a long-term need. But there’s a reason why the Packers never gave Savage a shot in the slot last year. If you’re going to move your safety into the slot, someone has to play safety. The Packers didn’t have anyone else to play safety. As a senior, Woods picked off eight passes and had 4.5 tackles for losses. He’s 6-foot-2 and only 195 pounds but has 4.36 speed.

Fourth Round – No. 140: Western Kentucky edge DeAngelo Malone

The Packers need depth at outside linebacker, and Ojabo won’t provide it to start the season. So, a mid-round pick makes sense. It came against lesser competition but Malone posted 34 sacks, 60 tackles for losses and nine forced fumbles for his career. At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.54 seconds. Imagine the potential of Green Bay’s pass rush tied to throwing into the cornerback corps of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes.

Seventh Round – No. 228: Wisconsin OL Logan Bruss

Bruss started at right tackle and right guard for the Badgers. He allowed just one sack the last two seasons, according to Sports Info Solutions. At 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, he’s got plus-athleticism with his 4.55 in the 20-yard shuttle. He’ll provide that versatility in the NFL. Speaking to the depth of this year’s draft, he is a better player as a seventh-rounder than fellow Badger Cole Van Lanen was a sixth-rounder last year.

Seventh Round – No. 249: Ouachita Baptist CB Gregory Junior

Junior’s work at the Division II level was good enough to get him a shot at the Senior Bowl. He measured 5-foot-11 7/8 and a sturdy 203 pounds with 4.45 speed in the 40 and a 39.5-inch vertical. He had only one interception in his career. This late in the draft, you’ve got to bet on something and that athleticism is impossible to ignore.

Seventh Round – No. 258: Georgia Tech S Tariq Carpenter

Carpenter was a four-year starter for the Yellow Jackets. As a senior, he had 65 tackles in 10 games, highlighted by a season-high 13 stops at Clemson. He added three passes defensed and one forced fumble. In 52 career games, he picked off four passes, broke up 22 and forced three fumbles. At 6-foot-2 7/8 and 230 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.47 seconds. At the Senior Bowl, he showed promise at linebacker. He had a predraft visit.